122 IN THE ACADIAN LAND. 



try to get out of sight and hearing of others. 

 From hiding himself and his booty it is not a 

 long step to more or less cover up what he 

 could not then eat. To hide it from eyes would 

 not be so important to him as to hide it from 

 noses. Smelling was more to be feared than 

 seeing ; to bury it would seem to the owner the 

 way to best protect it. Such a habit would be 

 of immense benefit to the possessor of it. Such 

 habit could be easily formed, it seems to me. It 

 is certain that different families of animals 

 practise it and profit by it. A good instance of 

 it in birds may be seen in the California wood- 

 peckers. In the autumn they make small shal- 

 low holes in the thick bark of pine-trees ; into 

 each one they crowd an acorn till it is about 

 level with the bark. I have seen hundreds of 

 them on a single tree. These woodpeckers do 

 not, as a rule, eat acorns. I have watched in 

 vain to see them do it. The explanation is 

 probably to be found by referring the habit to 

 distant ancestors, not yet fully woodpeckers, 

 who did store acorns for food, and to them it 

 was of great value. The habit has outlasted its 

 use. 



The squirrel family and their near relatives 

 the gophers are noted for carrying away stores 

 for future use, and our striped squirrels do the 



